Norristown man pleads guilty to cocaine possession

COURTHOUSE — A local man with a long rap sheet fessed up last week, but will remain behind bars for the next four years, at least.

Joseph Russell Miller, 32, of the 100 block of Haws Avenue, Norristown, pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver in Montgomery County Court last week. He was sentenced to four to eight years in prison by Judge William R. Carpenter.

When police converged on his Haws Avenue home more than a year ago, they were met with a stockpile of drugs and guns, police reported.

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According to the affidavit, West Norriton police, in conjunction with Montgomery County detectives’ drug task force had been investigating Miller for the three weeks prior, and we able to obtain a search warrant for his home.

On Oct. 19, 2011, around 7:30 p.m., police executed the search warrant on Miller’s house and we met at the door by his mother, who “reluctantly” answered the door, according to the affidavit.

Surveillance footage from outside Miller’s house indicated that he was inside. When detectives went up to the second floor and into Miller’s bedroom, he was gone, but detectives immediately noticed a window ajar.

Police emerged out of the window and found him lying flat on a neighbor’s rooftop, about four houses away from his residence. He was brought back into the house through the open window.

On the premises, police discovered three fully loaded handguns, about 13 bags of marijuana, packaged for sale, more than 150 baggies of crack cocaine, packaged for sale, a scale, prescription pills, more than $2,000 in cash and other drug paraphernalia.

In a statement to police, Miller reportedly admitted to selling marijuana, cocaine and Xanax for the last two years. He also took responsibility for the firearms.

“Drug dealing is unacceptable in Montgomery County and everywhere else,” said Assistant District Attorney Jason Whalley, who prosecuted Miller.

“We are pleased that Mr. Miller decided to accept responsibility. Considering the defendant’s record and the amount of drugs involved, it was an appropriate sentence.”

Miller has eight prior arrests for various criminal charges, including drug violations, firearms violations and resisting arrest. Police said that because of his priors, the Miller case became a priority investigation.

“I’m thankful that the Commonwealth gave him the opportunity to serve his time close to home and in a State Correctional Facility at Chester, where he could continue to get help for his addiction issues,” said defense attorney Frank Genovese.

“Like so many others in his situation, he started out using drugs and moved onto selling drugs to support his habit. While he was out on bail, he did participate in both inpatient and outpatient treatment. Now he can continue to seek help and support while he is serving his sentence, so that he has the necessary coping skills to avoid falling back into the same trap once he is released.”